Best Rowing Machine for Home: Concept2 vs Hydrow vs Aviron
Air, magnetic, water or hybrid? How rowers compare on noise, storage, rail length and memberships, plus Concept2, Hydrow Wave and Aviron Strong picks.
A rowing machine works the legs, hips, back and arms in one stroke, and most models stand on end in a corner afterward. The hard part is choosing. Air, magnetic, water and hybrid rowers feel and sound very different, screen models lean on a membership, and a poorly made rower can cut the stroke short.
This guide covers what separates a good rower from a frustrating one, then three machines worth buying: the Concept2 RowErg, the Hydrow Wave and the Aviron Strong.
Quick verdict
- The one to buy once and keep: the Concept2 RowErg. Air resistance, the PM5 monitor with the most trusted numbers in rowing, no subscription, and a build that lasts decades. It is loud.
- Quiet rowing with real coaching: the Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine. Magnetic resistance that still feels like rowing, classes led by real rowers, and a compact frame. Plan on the membership.
- Games, comfort and easy on-and-off: the Aviron Strong Series Rower. Hybrid air and magnetic resistance, a high seat over a low rail, and a big library of games. Also built around a membership.
The rowers side by side
| Rower | Shop | Resistance | Noise | Weight / capacity | Rail and seat | Storage | Without a membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept2 RowErg |  View on Amazon
| Air fan, 10-step damper | Loudest type | 57 lb / 500 lb | 54 in rail, inseams to about 38 in; seat about 14 in up, tall legs optional | Upright, or splits in two | Fully usable: PM5 programs plus free and paid apps |
| Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine |  View on Amazon
| Magnetic, drag factor 50 to 300 | Very quiet | 102 lb / 375 lb | 52 in rail, inseams to about 36 in; 80 in long | Upright with a wall anchor | Limited |
| Aviron Strong Series Rower |  View on Amazon
| Hybrid air and magnetic, 16 levels | Quieter than air | 114 lb / 507 lb | High seat, low rail, adjustable pedal width | Upright, designed to stand on its own | Limited |
| Ergatta | Water tank | Soft water sound | 105 lb filled / 500 lb | Low seat (riser legs available), narrow pedals | Screen folds; stands upright | Limited | |
| Assault Rower Elite | Air fan, no damper | Loud | 143 lb / 350 lb | High, very comfortable seat | Upright, seat pins in place | Fully usable; simple console |
Buy once and keep
Concept2 RowErg
The rower gyms, coaches and teams use: air resistance about as close to water as indoor rowing gets, the most trusted numbers and a build that lasts decades.
- 10-step damper
- 57 lb, holds 500 lb
- Stores upright or in two pieces
Good for
- Serious training and accurate data
- No monthly bill
Skip it if
- Apartments and shared rooms (it is the loudest)
Air, magnetic, water or hybrid
Air rowers spin a fan. The harder the pull, the more the air pushes back, so resistance is effectively unlimited. The stroke is heaviest at the catch and lightens as the fan spins up, which is close to how a boat feels. The trade-off is noise: fan rowers are the loudest kind.
Magnetic rowers are the quietest. Basic magnetic rowers often run out of resistance for strong users; the Hydrow Wave avoids that, with a wide range that still feels like rowing and gets very heavy at high settings. Magnetic resistance tends to hold steadier through the whole stroke, so the arms and back work right to the finish.
Water rowers paddle through a tank. Resistance rises with effort like an air rower, the sound is a soft swish rather than a roar, and the wooden frames look good in a living room. Water is not quite the same as a boat, though: the paddles spin fast and are not fully submerged. The tank also needs purification tablets.
Hybrid rowers, like the Aviron Strong, combine a fan with magnets. They are quieter than pure air rowers and less limited than pure magnetic ones.
Drag factor, not "level"
Air rowers and some magnetic rowers measure resistance as a drag factor rather than a level. The Hydrow Wave runs from 50 to 300 and ships at 104, the setting that most closely mimics water. On a Concept2, a drag factor around 120 gives a realistic water feel for many rowers. Set it and leave it; change intensity by pulling harder. A higher damper is not a better workout, as Concept2's damper setting guide explains.
Noise: apartments and upstairs rooms
For early mornings, shared walls or a room over a bedroom, magnetic wins. A magnetic rower can run before the rest of the house is up without waking anyone, and a belt drive is quieter and lower maintenance than a chain. Water is next. A Concept2 or any fan rower belongs where noise doesn't matter.
Quiet, with real coaching
Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine
Quiet, smooth magnetic resistance that still feels like a real stroke, classes led by experienced rowers on real water, and a compact frame.
- 16 in touchscreen
- 80 in long
- 375 lb capacity
Good for
- Shared homes
- Learning technique
Skip it if
- Rowing without a membership
Storage and the wall anchor
Most good rowers store upright. Standing up, a Concept2 takes about five square feet, and it also splits into two pieces for a low ceiling or a closet. The Hydrow Wave is 80 inches long and lifts onto its end, but a wall anchor is the safe way to do it; check whether the anchor comes with the rower or is sold separately. The Aviron Strong is designed to stand without one. With kids or pets around, anchor any upright rower anyway. For setting up the room itself, see the garage home gym setup guide.
Fit: rail length, inseam and seat height
- Rail length: the rail has to be long enough to finish the stroke with legs flat. The Concept2's 54-inch rail suits inseams up to about 38 inches, the Hydrow Wave's 52-inch rail about 36 inches. Folding rowers often have short rails; one folding model in this class is a poor fit above about 6 ft 5 in.
- Seat height: a low seat is hard on knees and for anyone who struggles to get up off the floor. The Concept2 sits about 14 inches up and offers a tall-legs version; the Aviron Strong pairs a high seat with a low, easy-to-step-over rail.
- Pedal width: narrow pedals mimic a boat but feel cramped for wider hips or a larger midsection. The Aviron Strong adjusts pedal width with a crank; most water rowers set the feet close together.
- The front end: on a lot of basic rowers, the handle feeds in barely past the foot plates, and the plates swivel. That cuts the stroke short at the front, where the legs and hips do most of the work. Look for a handle that travels well out in front of the feet.
Games and easy on-and-off
Aviron Strong Series Rower
Hybrid air and magnetic resistance, a high seat over a low rail, adjustable pedals, a free-rotating handle and a big library of rowing games.
- 22 in touchscreen
- 507 lb capacity
- 16 levels
Good for
- Larger bodies
- Trouble getting down to a low seat
Skip it if
- Rowing without a membership
Count the membership too
A rower with a big touchscreen is really a rower plus a subscription. Without the membership, the Hydrow, Aviron and Ergatta screens offer little beyond a basic just-row mode, and losing features after canceling is one of the most common complaints. Treat the machine and membership as one purchase, made only if the classes or games will keep you rowing.
The Concept2 is the exception. It needs no membership, lets you build and save your own workouts, and pairs with Concept2's free app plus third-party platforms, including the Hydrow, Aviron and Ergatta apps, on a phone or tablet.
Data you can trust
The PM5 is regarded as one of the most accurate rowing monitors, with force curves, watts, stored workouts and programming, and rowing clubs compare scores on it. Numbers from different brands aren't directly comparable, and basic monitors tend to cycle through metrics or lag a few strokes behind.
The picks in detail
Concept2 RowErg
The RowErg (once called the Model D) is the rower gyms, coaches and teams use. The air resistance is about as close to rowing on water as an indoor machine gets, and the damper has 10 settings. The chain drive feels grittier than a belt and is the loudest here. It weighs 57 lb, holds 500 lb and stores upright or in two pieces.
The main reason to buy it is durability. Older Concept2s have logged millions of meters and are still rowing; parts are sold individually and are easy to replace. A common path is to buy a basic rower, find rowing sticks, then buy a Concept2 anyway. If the commitment is real, starting here saves that second purchase.
Buy once and keep
Concept2 RowErg
The rower gyms, coaches and teams use: air resistance about as close to water as indoor rowing gets, the most trusted numbers and a build that lasts decades.
- 10-step damper
- 57 lb, holds 500 lb
- Stores upright or in two pieces
Good for
- Serious training and accurate data
- No monthly bill
Skip it if
- Apartments and shared rooms (it is the loudest)
Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine
The Wave is the compact Hydrow: 80 inches long and 102 lb, with a 375 lb capacity and a 16-inch HD touchscreen. Its magnetic resistance is quiet and smooth yet still feels like a real stroke. Heel straps rise with your heels, which helps beginners and less flexible rowers; the foot straps buckle rather than use Velcro.
The classes carry it. Instructors are experienced rowers coaching from boats on real water, plus yoga and strength sessions. The machine is limited without the membership. Hydrow's larger Pro adds a bigger rotating screen, but the Wave's shorter frame suits most homes.
Quiet, with real coaching
Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine
Quiet, smooth magnetic resistance that still feels like a real stroke, classes led by experienced rowers on real water, and a compact frame.
- 16 in touchscreen
- 80 in long
- 375 lb capacity
Good for
- Shared homes
- Learning technique
Skip it if
- Rowing without a membership
Aviron Strong Series Rower
The Strong combines air and magnetic resistance (up to 100 lbs on the listing, 16 levels) with a 22-inch HD touchscreen. It is the most adaptable frame here: a 507 lb capacity, a high seat over a low rail for easy mounting, a crank to widen or narrow the pedals, and a handle that rotates freely to keep wrists neutral.
Its platform is built around games that reward rowing strategically, plus trainer-led classes and streaming apps for long, easy sessions. As with any screen rower, plan on keeping the membership.
Games and easy on-and-off
Aviron Strong Series Rower
Hybrid air and magnetic resistance, a high seat over a low rail, adjustable pedals, a free-rotating handle and a big library of rowing games.
- 22 in touchscreen
- 507 lb capacity
- 16 levels
Good for
- Larger bodies
- Trouble getting down to a low seat
Skip it if
- Rowing without a membership
Others worth knowing about
- Ergatta: a cherry-wood water rower with performance-focused games that adapt to your pace, and one of the smallest upright footprints. The seat is low and firm and the pedals are close together, which can make good form hard for less flexible rowers. Not sold on Amazon.
- Assault Rower Elite: a heavy-duty air rower with no damper, a removable fan guard, a center grip for one-arm rowing and one of the most comfortable seats on any rower.
- NordicTrack RW900 and RW700: quiet magnetic rowers for households already on iFit, with automatic resistance changes during classes.
Who should buy which
- Serious training, accurate data, no monthly bill, garage or basement space: the Concept2 RowErg.
- Quiet rowing in a shared home, with coaching that teaches technique: the Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine.
- Games for motivation, larger bodies, or trouble getting down to a low seat: the Aviron Strong Series Rower.
- Walking or running instead: see the walking pad comparison or the folding treadmill guide.
Posted by Kristopher Larson
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rowing machine for home use?
It depends on how you will use it. The Concept2 RowErg is the long-term buy for serious training, with accurate PM5 data and no membership needed. The Hydrow Wave suits a shared home that needs quiet rowing and guided classes. The Aviron Strong suits people who stay motivated by games or need a higher seat that is easy to get on and off.
What is the quietest type of rowing machine?
Magnetic rowers, especially those with a belt drive instead of a chain, are the quietest and work well in apartments or rooms above sleeping family. Water rowers make a soft swishing sound. Hybrid air-and-magnetic rowers are quieter than pure air, and air fan rowers like the Concept2 are the loudest.
Do you need a subscription for a Hydrow or Aviron rower?
Practically, yes. Without a membership, screen rowers like the Hydrow Wave and Aviron Strong offer little more than a basic just-row mode, so treat the machine and the membership as one purchase. The Concept2 RowErg needs no subscription and can pair with free apps or with paid platforms on a phone or tablet.
What drag factor should I use on a rowing machine?
Many rowers find a drag factor around 120 feels realistic on a Concept2, and the Hydrow Wave ships at 104, its closest match to rowing on water. Higher is not automatically better. Pick a setting that lets you hold good form, leave it there and vary intensity with how hard you drive.
How tall can you be to use a rowing machine?
Check the rail length. The Concept2 RowErg's 54-inch rail fits inseams up to about 38 inches, and the Hydrow Wave's 52-inch rail fits up to about 36 inches. Some folding rowers have short rails and are a poor fit for people taller than about 6 ft 5 in.
Can a rowing machine be stored upright?
Most quality rowers can. The Concept2 stands on end or splits into two pieces, the Hydrow Wave stands upright with a wall anchor, and the Aviron Strong is designed to stand on its own. With children or pets in the house, secure any upright rower to the wall so it can't be knocked over.
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